Positioning an Element Using the Transform Tool

Using the Transform tool, you can easily reposition, scale, rotate and even skew layers directly in the Camera view.

When positioning a drawing layer using the Transform tool, always make sure the Peg Selection Mode is deselected in the Tool Properties view. Otherwise, it will limit the selection to pegs in the Camera view.

Transformations, such as rotation, scale, skew and flip are made relative to the pivot point position. You can temporarily reposition the pivot point for each transformation using the Transform tool. Note that the pivot is only moved temporarily. When animating the position, the interpolation is calculated from the permanent pivot position—see Positioning an Element Using the Advanced Animation Tools.

ClosedHow to temporarily reposition the pivot point
1. In the Tools toolbar, select the Transform tool.
2. In the Tool Properties view, make sure the Peg Selection Mode is disabled.
3. In the Camera view, select your element.

The pivot point appears in the Camera view.

4. Click on the pivot point and drag it to a new position.

This will be the new position of the pivot point for the current transformation. It will remain in this position as long as you do not deselect the drawing. Using the Transform tool to reposition your pivot will temporarily override the existing pivot point position until you complete the current transformation. Then it returns automatically to its original position.

When you translate the pivot point using the Transform tool, the permanent pivot will appear as a ghost so you know where it is and also from where the animation will be interpolated when you create motion paths. The animation is always interpolated from the original pivot and not the temporary pivot.

ClosedHow to pan a layer using the Transform tool
1. In the Tools toolbar, disable the Animate mode.
2. In the Tools toolbar, select the Transform tool or press Shift + T.
3. In the Tool Properties view, make sure the Peg Selection Mode is deselected.
4. In the Camera view, select a drawing layer and drag the selection to a new area. You can select multiple layers to reposition them at the same time. Press Shift and select the different layers.

ClosedHow to rotate a layer using the Transform tool
1. In the Tools toolbar, disable the Animate mode.
2. In the Tools toolbar, select the Transform tool or press Shift + T.
3. In the Tool Properties view, make sure the Peg Selection Mode is deselected.
4. In the Camera view, select a drawing layer.
5. Place the pointer outside of a corner of the bounding box and drag to rotate.

You can display a rotation handle on the bounding box when transforming a layer. In the Preferences dialog box, select the Camera tab and then select the Use Rotation Lever with Transformation Tools option. This preference is off by default.

ClosedHow to scale a layer using the Transform tool
1. In the Tools toolbar, disable the Animate mode.
2. In the Tools toolbar, select the Transform tool or press Shift + T.
3. In the Transform Tool Properties view, make sure the Peg Selection Mode is deselected.
4. In the Camera view, select a drawing layer and pull or push on the size, top, or corner control point. Hold down Shift to lock the selection's aspect ratio.

ClosedHow to skew a layer using the Transform tool
1. In the Tools toolbar, disable the Animate mode.
2. In the Tools toolbar, select the Transform tool or press Shift + T.
3. In the Tool Properties view, make sure the Peg Selection Mode is deselected.
4. In the Camera view, select a drawing layer.
5. Place the cursor between two controls points and drag sideways or up and down.

Transform Tool Properties

Icon Tool
Lasso and Marquee
Peg Selection Mode
Snap Options
Hide Manipulator Controls
Works on Single Drawing
Flip Horizontal and Flip Vertical
Rotate 90 Degrees CW and CCW
Offset X and Y
Width and Height
  Angle
ClosedLasso and Marquee

The Lasso and Marquee options let you choose the type of selection the current tool will perform. The default selection mode is Marquee.

• Lasso lets you draw a custom selection box around zones.
• Marquee makes a rectangle selection box.

Hold down the Alt key to switch to the opposite mode of your selection.

ClosedHow to invert a selection
1. Do one of the following:
‣ From the top menu, select Edit > Invert Selection.
‣ From the Camera or Drawing menu, select Edit > Invert Selection.
‣ Press Ctrl + Shift + I (Windows/Linux) or ⌘ + Shift + I (Mac OS X).
ClosedPeg Selection Mode

In the Camera view, the Peg Selection Modelimits the selection to peg layers instead of drawing layers. This mode is useful when you have created a character rig using peg layers for each drawing. That way, you do not accidentally select the drawing layer when you want to animate on the peg.

When disabled, the Transform tool selects the drawing layers.

ClosedSnap Options

When transforming or repositioning a layer using the Transform tool, you can enable different snap options to help you.

• Snap and Align: Snaps the selected layer to any existing line, while automatically displaying temporary rulers that guide you and that you can also snap your object to.
• Snap to Grid: Snaps your selection according to the currently enabled grid.
ClosedHide Manipulator Controls

The Hide Manipulator Controls button lets you hide the bounding box and manipulator controls from the Camera view when an element is selected.

ClosedFlip Horizontal and Flip Vertical

The Flip Horizontal and Flip Vertical buttons let you flip the selected element horizontally or vertically. You can also select Animation > Flip > Flip Horizontal and Flip Vertical from the top menu or press 4 or 5.

ClosedWorks on Single Drawing

By default, when you draw a selection box in the Camera view, the Select tool will select only the drawing strokes of the current drawing. If you prefer the Select tool to select all the strokes on all layers, deselect the Works on Single Drawing button.

ClosedRotate 90 Degrees CW and CCW

The Rotate 90 Degrees CW and Rotate 90 Degrees CCW operations rotate the current selection 90 degrees clockwise or counter-clockwise.

‣ From the top menu, select Drawing > Transform > Rotate 90 Degrees CW and Rotate 90 Degrees CCW.
‣ Press Ctrl + 7 and Ctrl + 9 (Windows/Linux) or ⌘ + 7 and ⌘ + 9 (Mac OS X).
ClosedWidth and Height

The Width and Height fields allow you to enter specific values for accurately resizing a selected layer.

• Width: Enter a width value in this field to resize the width of your selection.
• Height: Enter a height value in this field to resize the height of your selection.
• Lock: Click the Lock icon to lock or unlock the ratio between the width and height values.
ClosedOffset X and Y

Use the Offset Xand Offset Y fields to enter specific values to reposition the selected layer accurately.

• X: Enter an offset value in this field to reposition the selected layer along the X-axis.
• Y: Enter an offset value in this field to reposition the selected layer along the Y-axis.
ClosedAngle

The Angle  field lets you enter specific values to rotate the selected layer accurately. A positive value rotates the layer counterclockwise and a negative value rotates the layer clockwise.

• Angle: Enter a degree value in this field to rotate the selected layer.

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